Rovaniemi in winter is a photographer's playground and a photographer's headache at the same time. The light is gorgeous, the subjects are endless, and the cold drains batteries, fogs lenses and numbs fingers faster than you expect.

We live here and take a lot of pictures, so friends who care about photography often ask us which tours are actually good for it. The honest answer depends on whether you want someone else to take the pictures, or you want the freedom to take them yourself. Here is how the main tours compare, with the facts from the listings.

Two kinds of winter photographer

There are people who want pictures of themselves in Lapland, and there are people who want to make pictures of Lapland. Both are valid, and they need different tours.

If you want the first kind, look for tours where a photographer is included. You are in the frame, the photographer handles the settings and you simply enjoy the evening. If you want the second kind, you need space, time and a guide who understands that you will be standing at the same spot for ten minutes with a tripod.

Most tours blend the two, but the listings are specific. Some include a photographer, some say you take photos with your own device, and some include professional photos. Read the listing, because it tells you what you actually get.

For camera technique, see how to photograph the northern lights in Rovaniemi. This article is about choosing the tour.

Check live dates for the small group tour →

Booking reminder: type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

Aurora photos: the small group hunting tour

Professional Small Group Northern Lights Hunting Tour from Rovaniemi – Guaranteed5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is the tour we recommend first to photographers. The group is 2 to 8 people, and the included crew is a professional northern lights guide and photographer. Start times vary between 17:00 and 21:00 and are confirmed by email. It starts from €199 per adult, with a 1-hour cut-off.

Why do we like it for photography? Small groups mean less jostling for a spot, a guide can spend more time on individual questions, and a mobile route follows clear sky. The listing also states a 100% refund if no northern lights photos are captured, which is as close to a photography guarantee as a tour gets.

Winter clothing, overalls, boots, gloves and socks are included. That matters for photography, because standing still in the cold is what ends sessions early.

Bring your own camera if you want to learn, or rely on the photographer if you want to be in the pictures.

The cheaper route: the guaranteed bus hunt

Professional Guaranteed Northern Lights Hunting Tour from Rovaniemi by Bus5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 starts from €109 per adult and lasts about 5 hours. The listing mentions expert guides, weather-based routing and professional photos included, with a 100% refund if no aurora photos are captured. Ages shown are 13+ and 3-12.

It is the best value if you want portraits and group shots without paying small-group prices. It is less intimate, so if you are serious about your own tripod work, the small group will give you more room. We compare the formats in bus vs small group vs private aurora hunting.

Tip: even when professional photos are included, bring a charged phone. A quick shot of your own makes a nice memory, and the guides are happy to help with settings.

See the bus hunt dates →

Daytime pictures: huskies and snowy forests

Dogs in snow are one of the best subjects in Lapland. Nulkki Husky Adventure5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is a 4-hour experience from €189 per adult, with a 5 km self-driving husky ride, instructions, cookies and juice. The listing says photos are taken with your own device, so this is a tour for photographers who want to shoot themselves.

Driving a sled means both hands are busy. If you want pictures of your own ride, ask a travelling companion to take them, or plan a break when the team stops. The cut-off is 12 hours before the start, and the listing notes that bad weather can shorten the tour to a guide-driven version.

For a gentler option, Arctic Paws is a short, guide-driven ride from €65, and your hands stay free for the camera.

The tour with a photographer built in: the bucket-list day

If you want one big day with pictures included, the Lapland Bucketlist Adventure with Huskies, Reindeer and Snowmobiles5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is named with lunch and photographer included. It lasts about 6 hours, is rated moderate, and starts from €449 per adult. The group is small, with a maximum of 16 participants, according to the listing.

This is a premium day, and it makes sense for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, a family album or a milestone celebration. For travelling photographers, it may be less flexible than a self-directed day, but you will not miss a moment of being in the pictures.

Cost context: the price is high, so compare it with booking the activities separately in the booking window and decide what matters more, the freedom or the photographer.

Check the bucket-list day →

Cold, batteries and gear: what actually goes wrong

The cold does three things to gear. Batteries drain, sometimes shockingly fast, so keep spares in an inside pocket and swap them warm. Lenses fog when you move from the cold to a warm room, so leave your camera in a bag for a while before opening it. Fingers go numb, so wear thin liner gloves under warm mitts.

Tripods matter for the aurora. A phone can capture the sky on a night mode, but a stable tripod makes a big difference. Ask your tour whether tripods are provided, since we have not seen that stated in the listings.

Dress for the standing still, not the walking: a base layer, a mid layer and warm socks. The tours supply overalls, boots and gloves.

Our extra tip: take a few pictures early in the evening, then put the camera away and look at the sky with your own eyes.

Booking tips for photographers

Choose the clearest-looking night, not the first night. Book two evenings if your trip allows, because cloud is the main enemy of any aurora photo. Free cancellation is stated up to 24 hours before the activity on these tours, which lets you adjust to the weather.

Read the listing for what is included: photographer, professional photos or your own device. Confirm start times in your email, and charge everything the night before.

When you book, type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off. It is the only discount code that works with our link, and it applies to every StayLapland tour on this page.

Frequently asked questions

Which tour is best for northern lights photos?
The small group hunting tour (from €199) includes a guide and photographer for 2 to 8 people. The bus hunt (from €109) lists professional photos.

Are photos guaranteed?
The small group and bus tours state a 100% refund if no aurora photos are captured. That is a refund rule, not a guarantee of clear sky.

Can I use my own camera and tripod?
You can bring your own camera. Ask the guide about tripods, since the listings do not state whether they are provided.

Do huskies tours include photos?
Nulkki Husky Adventure says photos are taken with your own device. The bucket-list day lists a photographer included.

How cold will my camera battery get?
Batteries drain quickly in the cold, so carry spares in an inside pocket and swap them warm.

How much do these tours cost?
The aurora bus hunt starts from €109, the small group from €199, Nulkki from €189 and the bucket-list day from €449. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

Our pick for photographers

For aurora, book the small group hunting tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 and keep a second evening free. For a value option, take the bus hunt. For daytime, choose the husky ride that matches how much you want your hands free.

Check live dates on this page and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off. For more ideas, see our guide to activities in Rovaniemi.

Check dates and book the small group tour →